The law provides specific summary procedures for issuing ordinary passports in urgent or exceptional cases to ensure Vietnamese citizens abroad can return home promptly. These procedures apply in situations such as loss of passport, expulsion decisions, or repatriation under international agreements.
1. Issuance of Passport When a Citizen Loses Their Passport Abroad
When a Vietnamese citizen loses their passport while overseas and wishes to return home immediately, the process is as follows:
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Application Submission:
The applicant submits a loss report, a completed declaration form, two passport-sized photos, and any available Vietnamese identification documents. -
Overseas Mission’s Decision:
Within 2 working days, the overseas Vietnamese representative mission reviews and decides on passport issuance. The decision is also notified to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security if database systems are not yet connected. -
Verification (if necessary):
If documents are insufficient, the mission requests verification from the Immigration Department within 2 working days. The Department must respond within 2 more working days. -
Final Issuance:
Once verification is complete, the mission issues the passport within 1 working day. If refused, the applicant receives a written explanation. -
Declaration by Relatives:
If the application is filed by a domestic relative, the Immigration Department processes the application within 2 days and informs the overseas mission. The mission then issues the passport within 1 day after receiving required documents and photos.
2. Issuance of Passport for Expelled Citizens
If a Vietnamese citizen is subject to an expulsion decision from a host country and has no valid passport:
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The overseas Vietnamese representative mission receives the expulsion decision and two photos of the expelled person.
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Within 2 working days, the mission forwards this information to the Immigration Department.
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Within 15 days, the Department verifies the case and provides a written reply.
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Based on this reply, the mission issues an ordinary passport with a definite validity period.
3. Issuance of Passport for Repatriation Under Treaties
For citizens repatriated under a treaty or international agreement:
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The Immigration Department directly handles the request from the foreign side.
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If accepted, the Department issues an ordinary passport with a validity of up to 6 months and transfers it to the foreign side as per treaty requirements.
4. Special Circumstances
For reasons of national defense and security, the Immigration Department may issue passports directly or authorize overseas representative missions to issue them under the decisions of the Minister of Public Security.